Marty Appel
Encyclopedia
Martin E. Appel is an American public relations executive and author.
Appel graduated from SUNY Oneonta
in 1970 with a degree in political science
. He began his career in baseball
while a student after writing to then-Yankee public relations chief Bob Fishel.
Appel began his tenure with the New York Yankees
handling fan mail for Mickey Mantle
. He was named PR Director of the team in 1973.
After resigning in 1977 and starting a sports management company, Appel joined World Team Tennis
to do PR for the New York Apples, featuring Billie Jean King
and Vitas Gerulaitis
. When the league folded, he joined the staff of Bowie Kuhn
. While serving as VP for Public Relations for WPIX
, he won an Emmy as the executive producer of Yankee telecasts; he also produced pre-season football telecasts for the New York Giants
and New York Jets
. Appel has also worked for the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games and The Topps Company.
Appel has written 18 books, including a biography of King Kelly
, and children's biographies of Yogi Berra
and Joe DiMaggio
. He ghost-written books for Eric Gregg
, Larry King
, Bowie Kuhn
, Lee MacPhail
, Thurman Munson
, and Tom Seaver
, and wrote a biography of Munson published in 2009. He has also contributed to a variety of publications, including Sports Collectors Digest, Yankees Magazine and Encyclopedia Americana
.
He has served a member of the Board of Directors for the Yogi Berra
Museum and is a member of the Board of Trustees of the New York Sports Museum and Hall of Fame and was a member of the Advisory Council to the Israel Baseball League
. He also served as Editor-at-Large for the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
's quarterly magazine, and helped write the text on the plaques of Hall of Fame inductees.
He is president of Marty Appel Public Relations, New York based PR firm specializing in sports, and is married to Lourdes Appel. He has two children from an earlier marriage.
Appel graduated from SUNY Oneonta
State University of New York at Oneonta
The State University of New York College at Oneonta is a four-year liberal arts college in Oneonta, New York, United States, with approximately 5,800 students. The College offers many bachelor's degrees and a number of graduate degrees...
in 1970 with a degree in political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
. He began his career in baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
while a student after writing to then-Yankee public relations chief Bob Fishel.
Appel began his tenure with the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
handling fan mail for Mickey Mantle
Mickey Mantle
Mickey Charles Mantle was an American professional baseball player. Mantle is regarded by many to be the greatest switch hitter of all time, and one of the greatest players in baseball history. Mantle was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974.Mantle was noted for his hitting...
. He was named PR Director of the team in 1973.
After resigning in 1977 and starting a sports management company, Appel joined World Team Tennis
World Team Tennis
World TeamTennis is a coed professional tennis league played with a unique team format in the United States. Each match consists of five sets. Each set features a different configuration . Coaches, before the match, decide the order in which the sets will be played...
to do PR for the New York Apples, featuring Billie Jean King
Billie Jean King
Billie Jean King is a former professional tennis player from the United States. She won 12 Grand Slam singles titles, 16 Grand Slam women's doubles titles, and 11 Grand Slam mixed doubles titles. King has been an advocate against sexism in sports and society...
and Vitas Gerulaitis
Vitas Gerulaitis
Vytautas Kevin Gerulaitis was a Lithuanian–American professional tennis player. He is known for winning the men's singles title at one of the two Australian Open tournaments held in 1977. Gerulaitis won the tournament held in December, while Roscoe Tanner won the earlier January tournament...
. When the league folded, he joined the staff of Bowie Kuhn
Bowie Kuhn
Bowie Kent Kuhn was an American lawyer and sports administrator who served as the fifth Commissioner of Major League Baseball from February 4, , to September 30,...
. While serving as VP for Public Relations for WPIX
WPIX
WPIX, channel 11, is a television station in New York City built, signed on, and owned by the Tribune Company. WPIX also serves as the flagship station of The CW Television Network...
, he won an Emmy as the executive producer of Yankee telecasts; he also produced pre-season football telecasts for the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
and New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. Appel has also worked for the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games and The Topps Company.
Appel has written 18 books, including a biography of King Kelly
King Kelly
Michael Joseph "King" Kelly was an American right fielder, catcher, and manager in various professional American baseball leagues including the National League, International Association, Players' League, and the American Association. He spent the majority of his 16-season playing career with the...
, and children's biographies of Yogi Berra
Yogi Berra
Lawrence Peter "Yogi" Berra is a former American Major League Baseball catcher, outfielder, and manager. He played almost his entire 19-year baseball career for the New York Yankees...
and Joe DiMaggio
Joe DiMaggio
Joseph Paul "Joe" DiMaggio , nicknamed "Joltin' Joe" and "The Yankee Clipper," was an American Major League Baseball center fielder who played his entire 13-year career for the New York Yankees. He is perhaps best known for his 56-game hitting streak , a record that still stands...
. He ghost-written books for Eric Gregg
Eric Gregg
Eric Eugene Gregg was an American umpire in Major League Baseball who worked in the National League from 1975 to 1999...
, Larry King
Larry King
Lawrence Harvey "Larry" King is an American television and radio host whose work has been recognized with awards including two Peabodys and ten Cable ACE Awards....
, Bowie Kuhn
Bowie Kuhn
Bowie Kent Kuhn was an American lawyer and sports administrator who served as the fifth Commissioner of Major League Baseball from February 4, , to September 30,...
, Lee MacPhail
Lee MacPhail
Leland Stanford MacPhail, Jr. is an American retired front-office executive in Major League Baseball...
, Thurman Munson
Thurman Munson
Thurman Lee Munson was an American Major League Baseball catcher. He played his entire 11-year career for the New York Yankees...
, and Tom Seaver
Tom Seaver
George Thomas "Tom" Seaver , nicknamed "Tom Terrific" and "The Franchise", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He pitched from 1967-1986 for four different teams in his career, but is noted primarily for his time with the New York Mets...
, and wrote a biography of Munson published in 2009. He has also contributed to a variety of publications, including Sports Collectors Digest, Yankees Magazine and Encyclopedia Americana
Encyclopedia Americana
Encyclopedia Americana is one of the largest general encyclopedias in the English language. Following the acquisition of Grolier in 2000, the encyclopedia has been produced by Scholastic....
.
He has served a member of the Board of Directors for the Yogi Berra
Yogi Berra
Lawrence Peter "Yogi" Berra is a former American Major League Baseball catcher, outfielder, and manager. He played almost his entire 19-year baseball career for the New York Yankees...
Museum and is a member of the Board of Trustees of the New York Sports Museum and Hall of Fame and was a member of the Advisory Council to the Israel Baseball League
Israel baseball league
The Israel Baseball League was a six-team professional baseball league in Israel. The first game was played on June 24, 2007...
. He also served as Editor-at-Large for the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is an American history museum and hall of fame, located at 25 Main Street in Cooperstown, New York, operated by private interests serving as the central point for the study of the history of baseball in the United States and beyond, the display of...
's quarterly magazine, and helped write the text on the plaques of Hall of Fame inductees.
He is president of Marty Appel Public Relations, New York based PR firm specializing in sports, and is married to Lourdes Appel. He has two children from an earlier marriage.